HIDDEN RUIN GOES ON SHOW

St Mary's Chapel lies at the corner of Bexleigh Avenue and Hythe Avenue and, despite its incongruous suburban surroundings, is one of the key

historical relics of Hastings from Norman and even Saxon times.

For years, the chapel, which was built at some time after the Norman Conquest in 1066 and the early 13th century, has stood without any identification of what it is.

But on Monday a new plaque was unveiled by deputy mayor Maureen Charlesworth.

Cllr Charlesworth said: "It took a long time to get the plaque but they have made a nice job of it."

The plaque tells passers-by that the remains are of the chancel of the old St Mary's Church of Bulverhythe.

In its medieval heyday, the church was 101ft long and 24ft wide. The church was built by Robert, Count of Eu, on the site of a Saxon church.

The church's last known priest was William Tracy in 1452 and little is known about the church until

excavations on the site made by Mr T Ross in 1861.

Those who drowned in the Amsterdam disaster in 1749 were buried in the then-ruined church's graveyard.

Residents and members of the West Marina Society welcomed the

introduction of the plaque, funded by the council.

Clair Holton, 40, of Hythe Avenue, said: "People come past here and wonder what it is. We had a plaque before and it is important that we had it back."

The deputy mayor said she would be pressing for signs to be put up on Bexhill Road and elsewhere so people would be more aware of this piece of history tucked away in west St Leonards.

p If you know more about the church, call John Swidenbank of the West Marina Society on 720246.

For more information on West St Leonards history go to: www.

westmarinasociety.co.uk

Pictured are deputy mayor Maureen Charlesworth with

members of the West Marina Society.